1. The Israelites, the whole community, arrived in the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed at Kadesh. It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried.
2. Since the community had no water, they held an assembly against Moses and Aaron.
3. The people quarreled with Moses, exclaiming, “Would that we had perished when our kindred perished before the Lord!
4. Why have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?
5. Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place for grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates! And there is no water to drink!”
6. But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting, where they fell prostrate. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to them,
7. and the Lord said to Moses: